Sewing and mending machine



w. M, w39. A WIECK `SEWING AND MENDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1'1, 1958 L: l l

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 l SEWING AND IWIENDING MACHINE Anna Charlotte Wieck, Corvallis, Oreg.

Application February 11, 1938, Serial No. 190,060

4 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in sewing machines, more particularly it relates to an arrangement of parts whereby a machine accomplishing all of the requirements of an ordinary sewing machine can be converted into a machine for the mending or darning of clothing. This arrangement consists of a conventional stitch forming mechanism housed in a rounded bed, preferably about two inches in diameter, and a device for exposing said bed above the work table level, preferably also about two inches from the bottom of the bed, so that wearing apparel may be slid under the bed and guided on its rounded surface during the operation of mending or darning.

The object of my invention is to lighten an burden of the housewife.` In almost every family, a great amount of work must be done to keep clothing mended, especially in families with small children. There are innumerable socks, stockings, small overalls and rompers that are either torn or wear through in spots. The average family can not afford to throw away this clothing, so the housewife has no choice but to mend and usually by the tedious hand method.

After many years of experience operating commercial mending machines as well as home sewing machines, I have come to the conclusion that the best solution to the home mending problem is a machine that retains all of the features of a home sewing machine and yet be convertible into a machine functioning like the commercial mending machines. Most families could ill aiford a separate sewing machine and a separate mending machine, yet they could all afford a machine serving both purposes. 1

Many sewing machines have appeared on the market in recent years with mending attachments. To the bestof my knowledge they all require that the mending be done on the at work table of the ordinary sewing machine. This, of course, practically rules out such apparel as socks and shirt sleeves; even with straight goods the guiding of the work on a flat surface is extremely tedious. On the other hand, on a rounded surface the palm and fingers of the right hand grip the work against the rounded part and guide with an easy circulating motion originating at the wrist and arm. The left hand can grasp the material firmly. The position is as easy as holding a book or a newspaper.

One form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 consists of a full view of the left half and a half sectional view of the right half of. the sewing head I and its bed 2, and of a half sectional view of the cloth plate 3. The driving mechanisms have been cut away as much as possible to allow clearer illustration of the essential arrangements. Head I may slide up and down on the two round rods 4 (seen also in Figure 2) thru the holes in the tongues 6. The upward motion is assisted by the springs 5 which also prevent damage to the head I should it be dropped inadvertently.

Catch 1 holds the head in its proper upper and lower positions. 8 is a recessed portion of the cloth plate to permit a part of the head and its bed 2 to descend to the level of the cloth plate 3 and yet not expose any oiled surfaceswhen in the upper position. I2 is a polished plate covering e top part of the bed 2. In this figure the machine is in the sewing position.

Figure 2 shows the machine in the mending position. The .same numbers designate the same parts, but here the plates 9 are shown covering the space vacated by the bed 2. These plates slide in V-shaped grooves IIJ on a machined surface Il. Figure 3, which is a view of the cloth plate alone, serves to point these out more clearly.

The machine as illustrated may be used with a tread-wheel having two pulleys, one larger than f the other, to allow raising of the head and still maintain approximately the same speed without undue sacrifice of mechanical advantage. It l may, of course, be used with an electric motor, there then being no need of the pulleys as illustrated.

To change the head from the sewing1 position (Fig. '1) to the mending position (Fig. 2) the plates 9 are separated enough to permit clearance for the bed 2. The arm of the machine is grasped in the left `hand and the catch 'I is pulled away from the head by the right hand. The head is then .pulled to the full upper position by the left hand and the catch 1 is allowed to slide under the lower part of head I, holding it in positionas in Figure 2. Plates 9 are slid together, a mending foot and proper thread is substituted, and the machine is ready to mend.

vThe essential feature of my invention is a rounded bed integral with the head adjustably supported on a cloth plate.

Having thus disclosed my invention,

y I claim:

1. A sewing head having a mending foot, an arm-like bed housing the stitch forming mechanisxn, a cloth plate provided with a recess into which said arm-like bed may fit supporting two slide-bars, said head having four bearing surfaces 55 communicating with the bars and two coil springs pressing betweenthe head and the cloth plate and a catch to hold the head in an uppery 0r lower position with respect to the cloth plate and having two plates to cover the recess when vacated by the bed, the sewing head in its upper position being elevated with the bed entirely above the cloth plate.

2. In combination, a sewing head with a. tubular bed, a cloth plate provided with a recess, sliding means between said head4 and cloth plate, fastening means by which the bed may be held in said recess and by which. as desired, the head may be xed in an elevated position with its horizontal bed portion entirely above the cloth plate.

3. A sewing and mending machine with elements in combination as in claim 2 and driving means comprising two pulleys of unlike diameter mounted on the balance wheel.

4. A sewing head with an approximately cylindrical bed, spring means partially counterbalancing the weight thereof, a cloth plate provided with a recess into which said bed may t and means to hold lthe head with the bed entirely above the cloth plate in a position suitable for mending.

ANNA CHARLOTTE WIECK. 

